We’ve been hearing for some time about a proposal to put a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals compound on the site of the old Brooke Nursing Home.

So we’re again celebrating Independence Day. Hooray for the U.S. of A!

It seems to me…as long ago as 1859, Charles Dickens saw the current Walmart controversies and the love affair with Wegmans when he wrote “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…

It’s is a resource whose value is difficult to quantify. Some people would argue it’s not important and not worth paying for. Others would tell you it’s invaluable.

STAFFORD — In writing a Father’s Day column this week, I needed two things: inspiration and sources.

It seems to me…now is the time to get involved in the election process. With the primaries over, we know who the candidates are; now we must learn what they stand for.

Brace yourself. We’re fixing to get clobbered with higher taxes on lots of things. Why? Lots of reasons. Two stand out.

The most noteworthy happenings at the polls on Tuesday had nothing to do with the Democrats’ nominating primary for governor.

Newspapers are in trouble.

I know, because I read about it online. (Ha, ha. That’s a funny joke. I’ll remember to tell it to the guy beside me at the unemployment office.)

Dear Emily: My wife is two months pregnant and refuses to eat food that is good for her and then baby.

The Business and Professional Licensing Tax, known as the BPOL, was approved by the Stafford County Board of Supervisors last year. It follows an example set by Fairfax, Prince William and Spotsylvania counties. It requires businesses of all kinds, ones with store fronts, as well as those run out of the garage, to register and pay a tax on their revenues. The vote on this new tax was one of the most heated debates the county board of supervisors has had in years and it’s still raging. 

So I drive a Town Car, live in a gated community, and vote Republican. What’s not to like about that? What’s more, we Virginians next fall get to start turning our fine state red again, like God always meant it to be.

Once in a while in this opinion column writing business you advocate for something and it actually comes to fruition. When that happens, I pinch myself and ask, “Is this for real?”

They are really throwing money around nowadays.

While Stafford Republicans head to Richmond for a May 30 convention to nominate their candidates for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general, Stafford democrats and independents have an opportunity to nominate the Democratic candidates via a primary June 9.

We all know just how serious the national economic situation has become. The U.S. Gross Domestic Product, the sum of everything we buy, invest and consume, is down over six percent.

Need it happen every spring? Graduation means celebration. That means booze. That means death for young people.

It seems to me…at the risk of contradicting Kermit the Frog, “It is easy being green.”  And, it’s not only easy, it’s smart!

If you stay in contact with county officials and other people in the know, you might have known about the redevelopment sessions going on as part of “shaping a master plan” for specific areas of our county.

Forgive me, but I have misplaced my optimism. I’m sure it’s somewhere, because it has stood me in good stead for these many years

I have two credit card accounts and for the most part I pay them off whenever they’re due.

It seems to me…one of the most important abilities we humans have that sets us apart from the rest of the animal kingdom is language.

Our usually calm governor is outraged with the actions of the Virginia House of Delegates in rejecting $125 million in federal stimulus money intended to extend unemployment benefits.

For those of you who missed it, an interesting report appeared this past week on “20/20” titled, “If I Only Had a Gun.”

Someday soon, oldtimers may regale their grandkids about the good old days when there was a daily paper upon which many words were printed, one which arrived at the doorstep or nearby.

I’ve got news for you. Elections for the House of Delegates, State Senate, and yes, even our members of Congress aren’t as democratic or representative as you might think.

Last week, the Stafford County Planning Commission put off its recommendation to the county’s board of supervisors regarding a conditional-use permit for a proposed Stafford SPCA.

One of the issues of the times here in Stafford is who should get public water and sewer service and who shouldn’t be entitled to such modern niceties.

It seems to me…the average Joe in this great US of A is getting more of a shock treatment than a stimulus.

So the writing is on the wall and in your bank statements: Times are tough.